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PARIS (AFP): An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched two Asian telecoms satellites into orbit from the Kourou space centre in French Guiana, European operator Arianespace has announced.

The second Ariane launch of the year lifted off at 0300 IST Wednesday.

It placed into orbit two geostationary satellites -- the JCSAT-13 for the Japanese SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and the VINASAT-2 of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group.

The 4.5-tonne Japanese satellite, replace an existing orbiter, will provide television services for the whole of the country, as well as for Southeast Asia.

The smaller Vietnamese version will provide television, radio and telephone services in Vietnam.